A closer walk by continued growth
Notes
Transcript
Handout
He is able to grow us!
He is able to grow us!
I think we can all agree that growth as a Christian is vital if we are going to grow as the church. This applies in the world too that growth is necessary, but our focus is a closer walk with thee in our series.
We are called to grow up in all things (Eph4:14-15)
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Grow up since you have tasted the goodness of the Lord (1Pt2:1-3)
This again is going to be a scripture rich message so hold on since we know the power of the word! Here is one we need to remember so that we can grow up
1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
have you tasted the goodness, the kindness, the forgiveness, the mercy, the blessings of the Lord? We come to understand more as we continue to grow, as we grow we have a closer walk with thee, one way we grow is in grace and knowledge.
Grow in grace and knowledge (2Pt3:18)
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
As we grow in grace, knowledge of Jesus we then give him glory! More glory today and for all eternity.
So we are to grow in knowledge, in zeal, in faith, in Christ like behavior and character, grow in good works. We cannot be full of knowledge of Him all the while living, acting, being like the world with un-Christ like lifestyle.
(Transition) As we wrap up this series my aim, my desire is for us to continue to grow in a closer walk with thee in word, in deed, in service, and in love. There are things that can hinder our growth and things that spur our grow, and that is what we are looking at today.
Hindrances to growth
Hindrances to growth
Have you heard the expression “growing pains?” Well in growing and in growing pains there are some hindrances that can keep us from growing. Don’t let these things keep you stagnant or sliding away from your walk with Christ.
Lack of Effort (Heb5:13; 1Cor3:1-2)
Growing in Christ, with Christ is not just a natural thing, it is not automatic, for one can still be a babe in Christ or carnal even after years as a Christian, here are a couple of scriptures to consider
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
there is the infancy one, now the carnal one
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
Discouragement (2Cor11:24-29; 2Cor4:8-5:1; Gal6:9; 1Cor15:58)
Jesus spoke of getting choked out by the things of the world, we can start off great with the love of Jesus in our heart but fall short in our head, and our hands and get easily discouraged
In 2Cor11:24-29 in summary is Paul recounting things he has gone through, which for most is way more than we would ever face like
5 x forty stripes minus one
3 x beaten with rods
1 x stoned
3 x shipwrecked, just to name a few things he suffered but did not allow himself to be discouraged or to loose heart. Consider this next passage
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.
Now jump down to v/14
14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
Read the entire passage 2Cor4:8-5:1 when you get a chance, hey, it may help you grow in a closer walk with thee.
As we grow, don’t get discourage or grow weary
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
and add to that
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
As Paul knew his labor was not in vain (2Cor4:16-5:1) he wanted the church to know their toil, their labor was not in vain either!
(Transition) We are talking about things that can hinder our growth and the next one is spiritual atrophy (you know when you don’t use use muscles?) look at spiritually speaking.
Drifting away because of no use (Heb2:1)
1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
Pay close attention, do something with what you heard if you want to maintain your walk, grow in your walk with Christ.
Outside interference (Mk4:18-19)
18 “And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Don’t let the cares, concerns of this world distract us and hinder us in our continued growth.
(Transition) Don’t let anything choke out the word in you for the word is vital for your growth and your closer walk with thee. and that sets us up for next point this morning
Spurring spiritual growth
Spurring spiritual growth
Spiritual growth helps to have a closer walk with thee, and spiritual growth does not happen by accident. Spiritual growth happens with commitment. Now we are to the application section, the commitment with application that causes growth and a closer walk with thee.
Get ready, get set, go! (Ps84:10; Jn13:12-17; Isa6:8)
Commit to be active, be active, be going, be doing and be doing now. For growth happens through participation, personal growth and in turn church growth.
Any, all service can be a source of joy
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Humble service is great service when done for the glory of God!
Jesus set a great example and gave command in Jn13:12-17 when he washed the apostles feet
There is plenty of kingdom work to do regardless of your ability, it is about your availability to be a servant. If He calls you to it, He equips you for it. So, offer your services and I’m sure we can help find something to do.
I have to be honest here, sometimes reluctant to ask for sometimes don’t know if people are willing or not. This year “Together we can” there are opportunities, there are sign up sheets, if you don’t see something you think you can do, see one of the men and lets see what we can do to accommodate you and let you be a blessing and be blessed.
when we realize the blessings we have when we are blessing, we grow, we grow closer to God and to each other in serving each other.
May we have an Isaiah attitude “here I am send me” as it says in Isa6:8 (yes, only a paraphrase of the passage).
The best servant, biggest blessing is when someone sees a need and fulfills the need without even being asked to do it. So, look around you what needs to be done that you can do? Be willing, be going!
Don’t be a critic about what needs to be done, or even how poorly someone else may have done something before, be one who energizes yourself to do and others to join in doing in and sharing the blessing and growth with one another.
Go, get growing through private devotions (Ps1:1-2)
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Delight in the Word and the Word will be a delight in you.
Spend time each day in the word and in prayer, engage your mind, engage you heart and you will encompass growth because of you doing this, so be going to the Lord in prayer and study.
Hey, you may consider on top of study, singing, lift your voice in praise and adoration in song, don’t wait for Wednesday or Sunday, make it a daily thing. I know we have discussed that earlier in this series.
Don’t go on a diet here, don’t starve yourself spiritually by not being filled with the Word and with praise!
Go, participate in small group, individual studies
If you have not experienced the blessings of a small group you are missing out. They spur personal growth and benefit growth as the body because we journey together.
Maybe you want to do a small group in your home, you just need some direction to get started, let us talk about that and see what we can do. Be creative, be committed, be doing and be growing.
These things help to spur growth and lead to more knowledge and application so to grow personally and as the church body.
Go, your part in inviting and leading others (Jn1:40-46)
Go, invite, invest, incorporate increased opportunities to share the gospel.
Maybe you are not called to teach, you can lead people to come to hear the teaching or ask someone to come and teach for you.
Maybe it is an introduction thing because of your committment first, look at this passage.
40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). 43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Andrew found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus (v.40-41)
Philip found Nathanael and invited him to come and see Jesus (v.44-45)
Those who get involved in inviting, in leading rarely stop growing in Christ themselves.
(Transition): Scripture tells us many things, and some things are hard things, difficult things to do, like examining self.
Go, as hard as it may be, examine yourself (2Cor13:5)
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
(examine yourself-1 picture inserted here)
Test yourself, examine yourself not your deeds but your faith.
Test yourself, examine yourself, ask yourself, am I closer today to the Lord than I was last year?
Test yourself, examine yourself, ask yourself am I as interested in Jesus Christ today as the day I was baptized into His possession?
Test yourself, examine yourself, ask yourself am I living out my faith and the commission given to lead people to Christ
Test yourself, examine yourself, ask yourself am I a joy filled child of God living and enjoying the life God has given to me?
Test yourself, examine yourself, ask yourself am I improving my life and my transition to be more like my Savior.
Test yourself, examine yourself, ask yourself am a good living example of a Christian to others?
Test yourself, examine yourself, ask yourself am I growing in my personal study, enjoyment and blessings of God’s word and in praise and adoration of Him?
(transition to conclusion) - wow, some hard self-examination questions I know my own toes are stepped on there and know If I want a closer walk with thee, i have to be committed to going! pressing on, persevering in personal growth, continued growth in and for the Lord!
Drawing a conclusion and concluding the series
Drawing a conclusion and concluding the series
End of the series, but the start of a new committed closer walk with thee, and it starts with you. Take the tools you have heard over the last few weeks and put them into practice and you will grow and have a closer walk with thee.
Don’t be a hum-drum christian with a little religion and not enough Jesus and His Spirit that came to save you and equip you with love, joy, peace and more as it says in (Gal5:22-23) for Christ came to give us life full, or life abundant according to (Jn10:10)
A closing scripture for you to consider
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
He is faithful and has equipped you to be faithful, to be growing, to be transforming and to be going! For he is able
(insert #927 he is able song)
After the song, make the invitation, encouragement, (Prayer) (exit slide)